Blanchette joins Ruby Tuesday from Au Bon Pain, where he served as the company’s president and CEO since June 2016, including through the acquisition of the company by Panera Bread in December 2017. Prior to Au Bon Pain, Blanchette served as president, CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Ignite Restaurant Group Inc., the parent company of the Joe’s Crab Shack and Brick House Tap & Tavern brands. In addition to his tenure at IRG, Blanchette served in numerous senior leadership roles at Carlson Restaurants, the former parent of TGI Friday's and Pick Up Stix.